We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
The age at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes continues to decrease in Belgian boys but not in girls: a 15-year survey.
- Authors
Weets, I.; Rooman, R.; Coeckelberghs, M.; De Block, C.; Van Gaal, L.; Kaufman, J.-M.; Keymeulen, B.; Mathieu, C.; Weber, E.; Pipeleers, D. G.; Gorus, F. K.
- Abstract
Background The age at clinical onset of type 1 diabetes is decreasing. Preliminary Belgian data suggested that this anticipation occurred preferentially in boys. We investigated whether this gender-specific anticipation could be confirmed over a 15-year observation period. Methods In Antwerp, we studied incidence trends between 1989 and 2003 in 746 type 1 diabetic patients under age 40. For 2928 antibody-positive patients diagnosed nationwide during the same period, age at diagnosis was analysed according to gender and calendar year. Results In Antwerp, the incidence of type 1 diabetes under age 15 increased significantly with time from 10.9/100 000/year in 1989-1993 to 15.8/100 000/year in 1999-2003 ( p = 0.008). The rising incidence in children was largely restricted to boys under age 10 where the incidence more than doubled during the 15-year period (6.8/100 000/year in 1989-1993 vs 17.2/100 000/year in 1999-2003; p < 0.001). Such an increase was not found in girls under age 10 ( p = 0.54). This selective trend toward younger age at diagnosis in boys was confirmed in the larger group of Belgian patients where the median age at diagnosis decreased in boys-but not in girls-from 20 years in 1989-1993 to 15 years in 1999-2003 ( p < 0.001). Conclusions Over a 15-year observation period, a selective anticipation of clinical onset of type 1 diabetes was found in boys but not in girls. This suggests that an environmental factor may preferentially accelerate the sub-clinical disease process in young boys. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Publication
Diabetes/Metabolism Research & Reviews, 2007, Vol 23, Issue 8, p637
- ISSN
1520-7552
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/dmrr.758